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Abstract:

Provided is a fuel valve including a uniform valve housing accommodating
a roll-over valve (ROV), an over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and a
pressure retention valve (PRV), wherein a pressure retention disc is
substantially axially displaceable within a top chamber of the valve
housing, between a normally closed portion in which it sealingly bears
over an outlet port of the flow path and an open position; the pressure
retention disc is configured with a cutout portion at least partially
enveloping a pressure relief port of the valve.

Claims:

1. A fuel valve comprising a uniform valve housing accommodating a
roll-over valve (ROV), an over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and a pressure
retention valve (PRV), wherein a pressure retention disc is substantially
axially displaceable within a top chamber of the valve housing, between a
normally closed portion in which it sealingly bears over an outlet port
of the flow path and an open position; the pressure retention disc is
configured with a cutout portion at least partially enveloping a pressure
relief port of the valve.

2. The fuel valve according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured
with a partition wall defining a fluid flow path extending between a
bottom chamber configured with a valve inlet and a top chamber configured
with a valve outlet; the bottom chamber accommodates a spring loaded
float member axially displaceable between a closed position wherein a
sealing head of the float member sealingly engages an inlet port of the
flow path, and a normally open position wherein the sealing head is
disengaged from the inlet port; a pressure relief port extending between
the bottom chamber and a valve outlet and being normally sealed by a
sealing plunger biased into sealing engagement within the top chamber;
and a pressure retention disc substantially axially displaceable within
the top chamber between a normally closed portion in which it sealingly
bears over an outlet port of the flow path and an open position; the
pressure retention disc is configured with a cutout portion at least
partially enveloping the pressure relief port.

3. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein the relief portion of the
pressure retention disc has a crescent-like or U-like or kidney-like
shape.

4. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein the outlet port of the
flow path has an annular rim elevated from a top face of the partition
wall, the annular rim configured for sealingly bearing the pressure
retention disc when at the closed position.

5. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall is
configured with at least one disc support upwardly extending from the top
face, the at least one disc support extending slightly below the annular
rim of the flow path.

6. The fuel valve according to claim 5, wherein the at least one disc
support is configured as an annular or a segmented support, or as a
plurality of projections.

8. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein a top cap of the valve is
configured with at least one projection extending into the top chamber,
restricting displacement of the pressure retention disc in the open
position thereof.

9. The fuel valve according to claim 8, wherein the at least one
projection extends from a bottom surface of the top cap.

10. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein the shape, thickness and
weight of the pressure retention disc define the retention pressure at
which the pressure retention disc will displace from its normally closed
position to its open position, during filling a fuel tank.

11. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein the sealing plunger is
spherical.

12. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein biasing force applied to
the sealing plunger, defines a pressure threshold for displacing the
over-pressure relief valve (OPR) into the open position.

13. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein a valve outlet of the
over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and an outlet of the top chamber are
discrete.

14. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein a center of gravity of
the pressure retention disc coextends substantially above the fluid flow
path.

15. The fuel valve according to claim 2, wherein the float member is
axially displaceable within the housing along a longitudinal axis offset
from a longitudinal axis of the housing.

Description:

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER

[0001] The present disclosed subject matter relates to a fuel valve and
more particularly it is concerned with a roll-over valve (ROV) combined
with an over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and a pressure retention valve
(PRV), at times referred to also as a holding pressure function--HPF.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER

[0002] A variety of roll-over fuel valves are known, also such combined
with other functions.

[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,132 discloses a roll over vent
valve comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the
latter comprising a substantially elongated slit-like outlet aperture of
the housing bounded by a valve seating. There is furthermore provided a
float member located in the housing and axially displaceable within the
housing between the inlet and the outlet; an elongated flexible closure
membrane strip anchored at one end thereof to an end of the float member
adjacent the outlet and at a portion thereof offset with respect to the
outlet; spring biasing means located within the housing and bearing on
the float member so as to spring bias it in the direction of the outlet;
whereby the spring biasing together with buoyancy forces acting on the
float member tend to press the membrane strip into sealing engagement
with the outlet aperture whilst gravity forces acting on the float member
tend to displace the float member away from the outlet so as to
progressively detach the strip from sealing engagement with the outlet.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,285 is directed to a roll-over vent valve,
comprising: a housing formed with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a
valve seating bounding an outlet aperture of the housing, a float member
comprising a sealing member, the float member received within the housing
and axially displaceable between a sealed position wherein the sealing
member sealingly bears against the valve seating of the outlet aperture
to seal the fluid outlet, and an open position wherein the sealing member
is disengaged from the valve seating whereby the fluid outlet is in flow
communication with the fluid inlet; a pressure-retention device extending
intermediate the valve seating and the fluid outlet, to thereby shut
fluid flow therebetween as long as pressure differential between the
fluid inlet and the fluid outlet does not exceed a minimal pressure
threshold; and a one-way fluid inlet valve being in flow communication
with said fluid outlet to allow fluid flow towards the fluid inlet at a
substantially high flow rate in the event of under-pressure at the fluid
inlet, the one-way fluid inlet valve comprising a cage having an inlet
port provided through a wall portion of the housing and being in flow
communication with the fluid outlet of the roll-over vent valve, and an
outlet port provided through a cage closure fixed to the housing and
being in flow communication with the fluid inlet of the roll-over vent
valve, wherein the cage closure and the wall portion define therebetween
a gap in which a sealing member is freely retained thereby being
displaceable and deformable within the gap between sealing engagement of
the inlet port and disengagement therefrom.

[0005] It is an object of the presently disclosed subject matter to
provide a roll-over valve (ROV) integrated with an over-pressure relief
valve (OPR) and a pressure retention valve (PRV).

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER

[0006] According to the presently disclosed subject matter there is
provided a fuel valve comprising a uniform valve housing accommodating a
roll-over valve (ROV), an over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and a pressure
retention valve (PRV), wherein a pressure retention disc substantially
axially displaceable within the top chamber between a normally closed
portion in which it sealingly bears over an outlet port of the flow path
and an open position; said pressure retention disc is configured with a
cutout portion at least partially enveloping the pressure relief port.

[0007] According to a particular design there is provided a fuel valve
comprising a uniform valve housing accommodating a roll-over valve (ROV),
an over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and a pressure retention valve (PRV),
wherein the housing is configured with a partition wall defining a fluid
flow path extending between a bottom chamber configured with a valve
inlet and a top chamber configured with a valve outlet; said bottom
chamber accommodates a spring loaded float member axially displaceable
between a closed position wherein a sealing head of the float member
sealingly engages an inlet port of said flow path, and a normally open
position wherein the sealing head is disengaged from said inlet port; a
pressure relief port extending between the bottom chamber and a valve
outlet and being normally sealed by a sealing plunger biased into sealing
engagement within the top chamber; and a pressure retention disc
substantially axially displaceable within the top chamber between a
normally closed portion in which it sealingly bears over an outlet port
of the flow path and an open position; said pressure retention disc is
configured with a cutout portion at least partially enveloping the
pressure relief port.

[0008] Any one or more of the following features and configurations can be
incorporated in a valve according to the disclosed subject matter, in
combination or independently:

[0009] The fuel valve is configured for assembly at any location of a fuel
tank, setting as a particular example a fuel delivery module of a fuel
tank;

[0010] The relief portion of the pressure retention disc has a
crescent-like or U-like or kidney-like shape;

[0011] The outlet port of the flow path has an annular rim elevated from a
top face of the partition wall, said annular rim configured for sealingly
bearing the pressure retention disc when at the closed position;

[0012] The partition wall is configured with at least one disc support
upwardly extending from the top face, said at least one disc support
extending slightly below the annular rim of the flow path. The at least
one disc support provided to prevent clamping of the pressure retention
disc within the top chamber.

[0013] The at least one disc support can be configured as an annular or a
segmented support, or as a plurality of projections;

[0015] A top cap of the valve is configured with at least one projection
extending into the top chamber, restricting displacement of the pressure
retention disc in the open position thereof. Said at least one projection
extending from a bottom surface of the top cap;

[0016] The shape, thickness and weight of the pressure retention disc
define the retention pressure, i.e. the pressure at which the pressure
retention disc will displace from its normally closed position to its
open position, during filling a fuel tank (the higher a filling neck of a
fuel tank extends, the pressure retention disc should be configured for
retaining a higher pressure);

[0017] The sealing plunger is spherical;

[0018] The biasing force applied to the sealing plunger, defines a
pressure threshold for displacing the over-pressure relief valve (OPR)
into the open position;

[0019] The valve outlet of the over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and an
outlet of the top chamber are discrete.

[0021] The float member is axially displaceable within the housing along a
longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the housing.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosed subject matter
there is a fuel tank assembly configured with a fuel valve of said
specified type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to understand the present disclosed subject matter and to
see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be
described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024]FIG. 1 is top perspective view of a valve according to the
presently disclosed subject matter:

[0025]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken along line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 3 is a top view of the valve of FIG. 1, with a top cap of the
valve removed for visualizing the top chamber;

[0027]FIG. 4 is a partially exploded top perspective view, with a top cap
of the valve removed;

[0028]FIG. 5 top perspective exploded view of the valve according to the
presently disclosed subject matter;

[0029]FIG. 6A illustrates the valve according to the presently disclosed
subject matter with the over-pressure relief valve displaced into its
open position;

[0030]FIG. 6B illustrates the valve according to the presently disclosed
subject matter with the pressure retention valve displaced into its open
position; and

[0031]FIG. 6c illustrates the valve according to the presently disclosed
subject matter at an up-side down position with the roll-over valve
displaced into its closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0032] With reference being made to FIGS. 1 to 5 there is illustrated a
valve generally designated 10, in accordance with the present disclosed
subject mater.

[0033] The valve 10 comprises a cylindrical housing 12 extending along a
longitudinal axis X and is fitted with a bottom cap 18 (FIGS. 2 and 5)
snap-fitted at a bottom end of the housing 12 by several lateral
projections 20 snapingly engaged into openings 22 near the bottom edge of
the housing 12. A top cap 30 is snap-fitted at a top of the housing and
is engaged thereto by an annular rim 32 snapingly engaged under an
annular shoulder 34 at a top edge of the housing 12.

[0034] Fitted over a neck 36 of the housing 12 there is a fuel tank
mounting crown 37, in the form of a metal disc configured with a
plurality of spikes 38 for engagement, within an opening at a location of
the fuel tank. The crown 38 is retained over the neck 36 by a downward
extending retention ring 39 within the top cap 30. It is noted that the
housing 12 is further configured with several lateral projections 41 to
facilitate coupling the valve 10 at different configurations within fuel
tanks. It is appreciated that a valve according to the disclosed subject
matter can be positioned at any location, though typically it is
configured for application at a fuel delivery module of the fuel tank
assembly, namely in neighboring a fuel pump, a fuel gauge and other fuel
valves.

[0035] The housing 10 is configured with a partition wall 40 defining a
bottom chamber 44 and a top chamber 46 with a fluid flow path 48
extending through the partition wall 40 and having an inlet port 50 at
the bottom chamber 44, and an outlet port 54 at the top chamber 46. As
can be seen, in the particular example both the inlet port 50 and the
outlet port 54 are circular and project from the bottom wall face 58 and
top wall face 60 of the partition wall 40, respectively.

[0036] As can further be seen, the bottom chamber 44 is configured with a
plurality of openings 70 at the housing 10, serving as valve fluid inlets
to thereby facilitate fluid flow between the fuel tank (not shown) and
the bottom chamber 44 of the valve 10. The top cap 30 is configured with
a valve outlet port 76 extending from the top chamber 46. An
over-pressure relief fluid outlet port 78 extends from the top cap 30, to
be discussed hereinafter. When assembled within a fuel tank, said valve
outlet port 76 and said over-pressure relief outlet port 78 extend
through suitable piping (not shown) to a fuel vapor recovery system.

[0037] Received within the bottom chamber 44 there is a float member 80
serving as a roll-over valve (ROV) and configured at a top end thereof
with a cone-shaped sealing projection 82 shaped and sized for sealing
engagement of the annular inlet port 50. A coiled spring 84 bears at its
bottom end on the bottom cap 18 and is partially supported within the
float member 80 and has its top end bearing against the float member 80,
applying thereto a moderate biasing force. The arrangement is such that
the float member 80 is axially displaceable within the housing 12 along a
longitudinal axis X' parallel to longitudinal axis X of the housing,
however offset (non-coaxial) with one another (FIGS. 2 and 3). It is
appreciated that only if the float member, and in particular the sealing
projection symmetrically extends about the corresponding annular inlet
port 50, the float member may be free to rotate about its longitudinal
axis X'. Fluid flow path 48 extends coaxial with axis X'.

[0038] Further disposed at the partition wall, between the bottom chamber
44 and the top chamber 46, there is configured an over-pressure relief
valve (OPR) generally designated 90 and comprising a cylindrical fluid
port 92 having a bottom pressure port 94 within the bottom chamber 44 and
a pressure relief port 96 not extending through the top chamber 46, said
pressure relief port 96 coextending with the over-pressure relief fluid
outlet port 78 at the top cap 30. Received within the cylindrical fluid
port 92 there is a sealing plunger in the form of a sealing sphere 98
spring biased by a coiled spring 102 bearing at a bottom end against the
sealing sphere 98 and a top end against a bottom surface of the top cap
30, wherein the sealing sphere 98 is displaceable between a normally
closed position (FIGS. 2, 6B and 6C) and an open position (FIG. 6A). At
the normally closed position the sealing sphere 98 sealingly bears
against the bottom pressure port 94, thus preventing fluid flow and
pressure discharge between the bottom chamber 44 and the top chamber 46,
and at the open position fluid flow and pressure discharge between the
chambers is facilitated. It is appreciated that the force of the coiled
spring 102 determines the pressure threshold at which the normally closed
over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90 will open. More so, at the event of
rollover of a vehicle, the over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90 will
remain at its closed position to prevent fuel flow from the fuel tank.

[0039] It is seen in the figures that the cylindrical fluid port 92 of the
over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90 extends parallel to the fluid flow
path 48 extending through the partition wall 40 and are both parallel to
the longitudinal axis X, there being a wall portion 110 within the top
chamber (best seen in FIG. 4), partitioning the cylindrical fluid port 92
of the over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90 from the top chamber 46, such
that said paths are discrete.

[0040] The valve 10 is further configured with a pressure retention valve
(PRV), generally designated 130 wherein a pressure retention disc 132 is
received within the top chamber 46 and substantially axially displaceable
between a normally closed portion (FIGS. 2 and 6A) in which a bottom face
134 thereof sealingly bears over the outlet port 54 of the flow path, and
an open position in which the pressure retention disc 132 is displaced
from the outlet port 54 and facilitates fluid flow therethrough. As seen
in the drawings, the pressure retention disc is configured with a cutout
portion 136 at least partially enveloping the wall portion 110 of the
pressure relief port of the over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90, said
cutout portion 136 has a crescent-like or U-like or kidney-like shape.
This configuration facilitates the compact structure of the valve
comprising in one housing the three functions, namely a roll-over valve
(ROV) combined with an over-pressure relief valve (OPR) and a pressure
retention valve (PRV; at times referred to also as a holding pressure
function--HPF).

[0041] The arrangement is such that the center of gravity of the pressure
retention disc 132 is calculated to extend through longitudinal axis X',
i.e. extending offset the longitudinal axis X and substantially above the
fluid flow path 48.

[0042] It is seen that the outlet port 54 of the flow path 48 has an
annular rim 139 elevated from a top face 60 of the partition wall 40,
said annular rim 139 configured for sealingly bearing the bottom surface
134 of the pressure retention disc 132 when at the closed position (FIGS.
2 and 6A).

[0043] Furthermore, the partition wall 40 is configured with a plurality
of disc support bulges 144 upwardly projecting from the top face 60, said
disc supports extending slightly below the annular rim 139 of the flow
path 48, said disc supports provided to prevent clamping of the pressure
retention disc within the top chamber 46. The at least one disc support
can be configured as an annular or a segmented support, or as a plurality
of projections as illustrated in the present example.

[0044] The pressure retention disc has a circle segment 148 removed (best
seen in FIGS. 3 and 4), substantially opposite the cutout portion 136, to
thereby facilitate fast pressure relief and smooth displacement of the
disc within the top chamber, i.e. to prevent its clamping against inside
side walls 150 of the top chamber 46. For that purpose, all radius of the
pressure retention disc 132 are chamfered, i.e. smoothened.

[0045] The shape, thickness and weight of the pressure retention disc 132
define the retention pressure, i.e. the pressure at which the pressure
retention disc 132 will displace from its normally closed position (FIG.
6A) to its open position (FIG. 6B), during filling a fuel tank (the
higher a filling neck of a fuel tank extends, the pressure retention disc
should be configured for retaining a higher pressure).

[0046] Furthermore, the top cap 30 is configured with at least one
projection 154 extending into the top chamber 46, restricting
displacement of the pressure retention disc 132 in the open position
thereof (FIG. 64) and preventing blocking of the valve outlet port 76.

[0047] With reference now being made to FIGS. 2 and 6A to 6C different
operating positions of the valve 10 when mounted in a vehicle's fuel tank
(not shown) are illustrated.

[0048] In use, under normal operating conditions (FIG. 2) the roll-over
valve (ROV) function is at its normally open position and however the
over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90 is at its normally closed position
and the pressure retention valve (PRV) 130 is also at its normally closed
position.

[0049]FIG. 6A illustrates a position at which pressure builds up at the
fuel tank (not shown), resulting in displacement of the over-pressure
relief valve (OPR) 90 into its open position. The roll-over valve (ROV)
remains at its normally open position and it is not unlikely that at this
position the pressure retention valve (PRV) 130 will also displace into
its open position.

[0050] In FIG. 6B the roll-over valve (ROV) remains at its normally open
position and the over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90 is at its normally
closed position, however the pressure retention valve (PRV) 130 is
displaced into its open position facilitating moderate pressure relief
e.g. at the event of fueling the vehicle.

[0051] In FIG. 6c the valve 10 is illustrated at an up-side down position,
simulating roll-over of the vehicle, wherein the roll-over valve (ROV)
displaces into its closed position to prevent fuel escape from the fuel
tank. At this position the over-pressure relief valve (OPR) 90 remains at
its normally closed position. As illustrated, the pressure retention
valve (PRV) 130 is displaced into its open position, however owing to the
closed roll-over valve (ROV) there is no fuel escape therethrough.

[0052] While there has been shown an example of the disclosed subject
matter, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the present disclosed subject
matter, mutandis mutatis.